Archive for November, 2007

With the holiday season in full swing, there is another season that is on everyone’s mind… BASEBALL SEASON! Starting on Monday, baseballs finest will gather in Nashville, Tennessee. For this short week, “the country music capital of the world”, will turn into “the baseball capital of the world”. This is a time where Minor League and Major League Baseball get together under one roof, exchange thoughts, see familiar faces, and come home with new, great ideas for their organization. Several of the BlueClaws front office staff will be under that roof in Tennessee. Between the trade show, business seminars, and round table conversations with other teams, look for new and exciting ideas here at FirstEnergy Park for the 2008 season and beyond!

I recall being in an interview in which another BlueClaws manager and I were talking with a prospective new employee. The interviewee (I think that’s a word) did not yet have experience in Minor League Baseball. One of the questions asked by the other BlueClaws employee was, “Do you like the beach?” Naturally, the interviewee responded, “Sure, I love the beach!” To which the BlueClaws manager responded, “Great, you’ll never get to see it!”

Of course this was done in a relatively light-hearted manner (we even like to have fun during interviews here), but it still pointed out a significant issue that every Minor League Baseball employee and those looking to get into the industry must wrestle with. This career is not just a job, it is a lifestyle change. From April to September you lose touch with an entire side of your regular world that you used to be familiar with. Weekends – gone. Weeknights – gone. Vacations – gone. It is a schedule of 14 hour workdays and 98 hour workweeks for nearly 6 months of the year.

I’ve noticed that I have now developed two distinctive groups of friends: Winter Friends and Summer Friends. During the off season, I get a chance to catch up and see many of these “Winter Friends,” but when April comes I find myself declining their offers to hang out due to my work obligations. By May the phone calls from the “Winter Friends” begin to disappear. This is where I find myself more prone to seeing my “Summer Friends.” Who are these people? They’re my fellow coworkers.

You see, this is where the payoff for the long hours comes in. It’s the people that you get to meet and share a work environment with. Through several years and several different teams in several states I have made friends that will last a lifetime. Not to mention my office is a baseball stadium! Can you say the same? So is it worth it? You bet.

My name is Chris Tafrow and I have been the director of food and beverage for the past 3 years. I ask myself sitting at my desk… what should I write about today? And the first thing that came to mind was hot dogs. Man these things are great!!! Everybody loves a nice tube steak in a bun. Weather you put relish, ketchup, or mustard on it. It’s your hot dog and you can have it any way you want so sit back relax and enjoy it! You can have it boiled, cooked on the grill or yes… even fried. That would be where the pepto comes in. I personally enjoy my hot dog grilled with a little bit of ketchup and relish. I have never really been a huge mustard person, but will take mustard from time to time. I guess it all really depends on my mood.

Did you know?!?

-If hot dogs consumed in major league ballparks were laid end to end, they would stretch from Yankee Stadium in New York City to Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles (Source WQED Pittsburgh)

-In 2006, consumers spent more than $3.9 billion on hot dogs and sausage in the U.S

-On Independence Day Americans will enjoy 150 million hot dogs

-The average hot dog is consumed in 6 bites

-Babe Ruth once ate 12 hot dogs and 8 bottles of soda in between a double header!

Please answer the following questions for me and reply to my blog!

-What is your favorite hot dog? -What do you like to put on your hot dog?

-What is your favorite ballpark hot dog?

-Who has the best hot dog in town?

-Do you like your hot dog grilled, fried, or boiled?

-The biggest decision……hot dog or hamburger?

Again it’s your hot dog, and there are some many things you can do with it!!!!! ENJOY

It is a strange time around. One of our own is moving on. For those of you who have not heard, Robin Hill, the first person you see when you come into the offices, is taking a job with the Phillies AAA affiliate in Allentown PA.

For the past 5 years she has answered the phones, been the person you see when you come in and the one person who knew about everything going on at FirstEnergy Park. For those of us on the inside she has been very much more.

Not on her business card or anywhere in print, Robin was the DOMO. (Director of Motherly Operations) She was the person to go to when you were having problems. She knew everything going on inside the office and what was going on with the individuals inside our offices. If someone was having a bad day you checked with Robin and she would inevitably have the reason why.

As well she is a registered nurse. When you are working 12-14 hours a day throughout the baseball season you don’t have time to get sick. Many stops are made by the front desk to let her give you the diagnosis and send you on your way.

We will have a person who has been around the BlueClaws for years taking over some of her duties. Many of you will recognize Jamie Smith as a long time employee around here and I’m sure she will do a tremendous job.

With that being said, Robin will be sorely missed. I wanted to take this opportunity (on my behalf, as well as many others in the organization) to wish her the best of luck in her new town and new job. Our loss is definitely the gain of those with the IronPigs.

I guess I picked the perfect time to join the BlueClaws. After, 3 years of working with the National Lacrosse League front office, it was time to work closer to home. The season I picked to join the team ends up becoming the championship season of 2006.

Since I arrived it’s been nothing but fun and great times. Since my favorite teams (Jets & Rutgers) aren’t doing so well this season, I’m looking forward to the 2008 season and hopefully I will continue to have great success here in Lakewood for years to come.

There has been a lot of debate over the past couple months if the new Prudential Center in Newark would be a success. I traveled into Newark on Saturday night to watch the New Jersey Devils play the Ottawa Senators in the first sporting event of the Prudential Center. The arena is extremely easy to get to by both car and by train (I took NJ Transit from Metro Park to Newark Penn Station).

After getting into the arena and finding our seats, the first voice that we got to hear was that of none than Kevin Clark, the longtime PA announcer of the Lakewood BlueClaws. That was a refreshing voice to hear that we all get to enjoy 70 games a season. Unfortunately the Devils lost their home opener 4-1 to the Senators but it is great to see that Devils fans finally have an enjoyable and exciting PA announcer, something that they have seemed to lack over the past couple of seasons.

I hope that every BlueClaws fan gets to enjoy at least one Devils game this season in this beautiful new building and show there support of Kevin Clark. If price is your concern, they have $20 tickets available.